“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). We have to be contented with what we have, no matter how little it can be. Let’s remain faithful to God, and stop comparing our lives with the lives of others. God’s wisdom is needed to succeed in life. Do not look up to people who gained their achievement and wealth through dubious acts. Associating with ungodly men in order to seek for favour, can lead to eternal death. Eternal death awaits those who reject God, his son Jesus, and continue in their disobedience and sin.
Living a life of materialism makes you spend more than your earnings or income, which can lead to indebtedness. Use whatever resources God has given to you wisely. Don’t be recklessly wasteful.
God’s promises should lead to contentment. God does not fail in his words, principally if you have not departed from the way of righteousness. He will not leave you nor forsake you. “Psalms 37:25 says: “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” Keep trusting God, do not lose hope in him. He knows and understands all you are going through. The type of blessing God grants to the righteous brings peace and satisfaction. Those who obtain wealth through crooked means, have no peace of mind, feel empty at all times, and will have a lifelong regret. God can give you a clean heart, which attracts blessing that adds no burden. “The blessing of the Lord enriches, and He adds no sorrow to it” (Proverbs 10:22).
All you need is to patiently wait for God’s time to avoid regret and eternal pain. “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity,” (Ecclesiastes 5:10). Worldly men are never gratified with what they have. A life filled with health, success and wealth is incomplete without the joy of God. Even if a sinner has many mansions, flashy cars and other material things, he will continue to seek for more money, power and fame, neglecting the spiritual gifts and wealth Jesus offers, which are the greatest of all.
According to Philippians 4:11-12, Apostle Paul said: “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am … I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” Life is full of ups and downs. We must learn to endure and overcome every hard phase of life. When Christ is with us, we ought not to worry, because he will give us the grace to get past any tough situation we find ourselves. Let’s be prayerful, so we will become stronger and better than ever before. We may grow physically in material wealth, but growing spiritually in Christ is the most paramount. We must prepare ourselves for home. Whatever we have today will no longer be ours the day we breathe our last breath.
Some good people see the wicked prosper for a long period of time and they feel discouraged, but Psalm 73 explains that it doesn’t matter how long the wicked prosper, a time will come when the judgment of God will come upon them. The wicked will be penalised, whether they like it or not, in their youth, or at old age. Their children and generations to come will be judged according to the sins they have committed. To top it all, the wicked will experience eternal punishment in hell, unless repentance is embraced, while the righteous will have eternal life in Christ.
• The Saint’s Gospel Church Of Christ — Hand Of Fire City (Shadow Tabernacle) Shadow Tabernacle Close, Hand Of Fire City, Olowo-Ina Bus Stop, Ikotun/Igando Road, Lagos Nigeria.
